Pregnant women who were exposed to the pesticide DDT could have passed on
health problems to their daughters, scientists believe

The daughters of women exposed to DDT in Britain before it was banned may be more likely to develop diabetes, high cholesterol or become obese, a study suggests.

Scientists have found that the pesticide, which was banned in the 1980s, can prevent the body using calories to generate heat.

They found that the female offspring of mice who were subjected to levels of DDT that were comparable to those present in Western countries before the ban, had slower metabolisms and less tolerance to cold temperatures.

The findings are likely to apply to women who are now in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

DDT was banned in Britain in the 1980s but continues to be used for malaria control in countries including India and South Africa.